CIS football: Rosters announced for 13th annual East West Bowl

OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced Monday the rosters for the 13th annual East West Bowl. The 2015 CIS football prospects game is set for Saturday, May 9 at 7 p.m. at McGill University’s Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal.

McGill will host the event for the first time, taking over from Western University, which hosted the last six editions in London, Ont. The all-star showcase has also been held at McMaster (2008), Laval (2007, 2006) and Wilfrid Laurier (2005, 2004, 2003).

In addition to the game itself, the week-long event includes daily practices, a combine for participating players (May 6), the CFL Free Agency Camp for players eligible to attend 2015 CFL training camps and not participating in the East West Bowl (May 6), a coaches clinic featuring presentations by CFL and CIS mentors (May 9), as well as the annual banquet (May 7).

“I am extremely pleased that we can host this prestigious event in Montreal for the first time,” said Ronald Hilaire, who recently took over as head coach of the McGill Redmen. “To be able to welcome future CFL prospects from across the CIS in the e-camp and draft is a tremendous honour. Western and all past hosts have done a great job of growing this event and we intend on maintaining that high level of quality for this year’s East West Bowl.”

The East West Bowl showcases – for the most part – CIS players who will be eligible for the following year’s CFL draft.

The East side is comprised of student-athletes representing schools from the AUS and RSEQ conferences, as well as Carleton, Ottawa, Queen’s and Toronto. The West contingent is made up of players from Canada West and the remaining OUA universities.

No less than 12 standouts who will take the field on May 9 – four for the East and eight for the West – have been named all-Canadians since the start of their CIS career, including quarterback Will Finch of Western, running back Mercer Timmis of Calgary, receivers Llevi Noel of Toronto, Brett Blaszko of Calgary and George Johnson of Western, offensive linemen Charles Vaillancourt of Laval, Philippe Gagnon of Laval and Sean Jamieson of Western, linebacker Curtis Newton of Guelph, as well as defensive backs Paolo Edwards of StFX, Elie Bouka of Calgary and Cyril Iwanegbe, also of Calgary.

Finch and James Fracas of Laurier will lead the West offence at Molson Stadium, while Mount Allison’s Brandon Leyh and Saskatchewan’s Drew Burko, who will exceptionally suit up against some of his Huskies teammates, will be under centre for the East.

Danny Maciocia, who last fall led his Montreal Carabins to the first Vanier Cup title in program history, has been appointed head coach of the East team, while Brian Dobie, bench boss of the reigning Canada West champion Manitoba Bisons, will be at the helm of the West troops, a position he previously held in 2008.

The East prevailed 19-12 a year ago in London to claim its fourth win in the past five years. The West, however, still leads the all-time series 7-5.

NOTES: A few players might be added to the rosters in the coming weeks… The complete coaching staffs will be announced shortly.